Computer Shuts Down By Itself While On Forum.....

[DingoGirl]

Hey pholks,

I don't know if this is a problem with my server, computer, the forum, or what........(and not even sure this should be posted in this section or gab/chat section - but, it's not happening anywhere else but this site)

But this has now happened three times in two days, and I'm getting worried! (I no longer have tech support in my life since we broke up.....)

So - I"m just minding my own business, reading along here, and all of a sudden, my computer just turns itself completely off while I'm on here. I can restart it, no problems, but......

any ideas?

I am using AT&T DSL......this has never happened before.

I'm scared! Help!

[jerseyangel]

Hi Souczie

I sometimes get a message that appears in a box on the screen that says "windows needs to shut down"...which it then does immediately. It always restarts itself, though.

It never happens on me desktop, just the laptop.

[home-based-mom]

Hey pholks,

I don't know if this is a problem with my server, computer, the forum, or what........(and not even sure this should be posted in this section or gab/chat section - but, it's not happening anywhere else but this site)

But this has now happened three times in two days, and I'm getting worried! (I no longer have tech support in my life since we broke up.....)

So - I"m just minding my own business, reading along here, and all of a sudden, my computer just turns itself completely off while I'm on here. I can restart it, no problems, but......

any ideas?

I am using AT&T DSL......this has never happened before.

I'm scared! Help!

I could be wrong, but it could be AT&T. I also have AT&T DSL and it disconnects countless times every day. I call AT&T all sorts of epithets that should be deleted and hope to ditch them soon. What passes for their "customer support" is in a third world country that speaks English with an unintelligible accent so don't even bother to try calling them. You'll waste an hour and solve nothing.

(Don't everybody jump on me for that comment. I have worked with lots of people with accents and normally don't have a problem understanding anyone. These people keep apologizing by saying "I am sorry - please bear with me" over and over and over and over and then they put you on hold but not quite fast enough because you can hear them shuffling through the manual trying to find the solution to your issue. Then they come back on the phone, apologize another dozen or so times and finally give up telling you that you must not have a problem because they can't figure it out. )

However, even with all that my computer doesn't shut off.

Do you have an assortment of anti-spyware and anti virus software installed?

AVG has a free antivirus that is good but takes about 6 hours to run so I let it run all night. SUPER AntiSpyware has an excellent free version. You can't set the free version to run automatically but you can start it when you go somewhere and it will be done when you get back.

[Juliebove]

It might be overheating. Check the vents and clean the dust from them if necessary. That could help, or you could need a new fan.

[DingoGirl]

Hi Souczie

I sometimes get a message that appears in a box on the screen that says "windows needs to shut down"...which it then does immediately. It always restarts itself, though.

It never happens on me desktop, just the laptop.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, computers are EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!

I could be wrong, but it could be AT&T. I also have AT&T DSL and it disconnects countless times every day. I call AT&T all sorts of epithets that should be deleted and hope to ditch them soon. What passes for their "customer support" is in a third world country that speaks English with an unintelligible accent so don't even bother to try calling them. You'll waste an hour and solve nothing.

Do you have an assortment of anti-spyware and anti virus software installed?

AVG has a free antivirus that is good but takes about 6 hours to run so I let it run all night. SUPER AntiSpyware has an excellent free version. You can't set the free version to run automatically but you can start it when you go somewhere and it will be done when you get back.

so, you have AT&T also? frustrating.

I do have AVG......which was installed about five months ago. This problem JUST started yesterday......I"m so confused.

It might be overheating. Check the vents and clean the dust from them if necessary. That could help, or you could need a new fan.

thanks, Julie. I"ll check those tomorrow in full light of day.

[jerseyangel]

I just remembered somephin--when it restarts, it "diagnoses" the problem automatically and it's the McAfee Security Center that is always listed.

Maybe it's your security?

[home-based-mom]

It might be overheating. Check the vents and clean the dust from them if necessary. That could help, or you could need a new fan.

We don't have A/C. In the summer I keep an ice cube tray on top of the computer tower and switch it out when the ice is melted. Very low tech but it works!

[wolfie]

I was having this problem with my HP latptop a short time ago. Mine would shut down when it felt like it, no matter what site I was on. A friend told me to go to the HP website to look for updates for BIOS. I did and updated mine and have not had it shut down once since then.

HTH!

[gfp]

It might be overheating. Check the vents and clean the dust from them if necessary. That could help, or you could need a new fan.

This is my #1 guess!

We don't have A/C. In the summer I keep an ice cube tray on top of the computer tower and switch it out when the ice is melted. Very low tech but it works!

I would say using sealed bags is better

the best thing is scary but it's really quite simple on a desktop.

Make sure its all switched off....

Remove the case (this is the hardest part)

carefully use a domestic vacuum - don't touch anything with the tube, just use the tube to suck without touching.

use a small brush to dislodge any hard to get fluff....

pay attention to the fans these can be touched and scraped etc. (its just a fan)... and the one in the power supply (big squarish box)...

vacuum out any more fluff .....

put back the case and switch back on....

[Ginsou]

I also had trouble with my computer.....but only while on this forum. It happened three times while trying to access the forum at different times over about 2 days.Scared the wits out of me.....thought it was crashing and had my husband back up the system just in case. We have an ATT aircard. Since the problem was experienced only when I attempted to access this forum, I think the problem was on their server end.

[gfp]

I also had trouble with my computer.....but only while on this forum. It happened three times while trying to access the forum at different times over about 2 days.Scared the wits out of me.....thought it was crashing and had my husband back up the system just in case. We have an ATT aircard. Since the problem was experienced only when I attempted to access this forum, I think the problem was on their server end.

Pretty unlikely.

It more likely the continued use caused it to overheat.